There is nothing quite as satisfying as dragging your hand down your leg, post-shave, admiring the dolphin smooth sleekness of your newly revealed skin. Whether it’s on your face or your underarms or your legs or even your head: hair removal can totally transform your image and instantly restores your confidence.
But it can be time-consuming to go through the head-to-toe removal process, especially for us girls with thicker, darker hair. (Looks great on the head, and it’s a curse everywhere else.) Who has the time to devote to hair removal every week or more? We are modern women leading active, busy lives!
Fortunately, there are easy techniques and tricks to incorporate into your hair removal routine that will extend the duration of your hair-free life. No hair removal method will yield permanent results (though some come close, like laser hair removal).
However, no matter whether you are using a depilator or a waxing kit or your good ol’ fashioned razor, there are universal methods to help keep unwanted hair at bay a little longer. Here are 3 ways to make your hair removal last.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is an ancient technique that has recently come back into vogue. It involves taking a stiff, densely bristled brush and dragging it over the skin on each part of your body. It is called “dry” brushing because both the person being brushed and the brush itself are completely dry.
Myths abound about dry brushing’s benefits. Some say it promotes lymphatic drainage, others say that it “cures” cellulite. While there isn’t concrete evidence backed by research to support either of these claims, there is reason to believe that dry brushing actually does promote circulation—which will promote a glow in the user’s skin—as well as reduce the appearance of cellulite. Both of these effects are temporary, and your mileage may vary.
So what does dry brushing have to do with hair removal? Dry brushing is a physical exfoliant, which will slough off dead skin cells or any excess products remaining on the skin. Plus, the improved circulation to the area will plump the area you wish to remove hair from and give you a nice, taut surface to get the cleanest removal.
Those with sensitive skin or skin conditions such as sunburn or a rash will want to be cautious in pursuing dry brushing, which may exacerbate any existing problems.
Pick the Right Tools
This seems like a no brainer, but picking the right tool is essential for the most precise removal of hair possible. And the right tool will vary depending on the area of the body you are removing hair from, as well as the coarseness and length of the hair to be removed.
If you are looking to remove hair from your legs, for example, your best bet will be a razor or other hair removal products which can be spread over a wide area with ease. Efficiency is key here, because the longer you take to remove the hair, the likelier that it is you will become tired or bored and begin to rush.
For your face, you should consider more forgiving cream-based products. The hair on the face tends to be finer and less grouped together, so removal should be gentler to avoid irritating more delicate facial skin. Depilatories are a good choice for facial hair, which will dissolve with ease compared to the hair found on other parts of the body.
Another reason you may want to consider a depilatory for your face rather than a razor is because razors will cut a blunt edge unto your hair, making the hair more noticeable as it grows back. A depilatory will dissolve the hair deep into the shaft, so that it takes longer for the hair to become noticeable on your face as it grows back.
Remember that no matter the method of your choosing, you want to avoid going over the spot more than once or twice with any of available hair remover. A sharp razor and an effective depilatory will avoid having to irritate skin any further.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating may be accomplished to your satisfaction with a dry brush, but you should consider adding in another step. Far from being redundant, exfoliating will add another degree of effectiveness to your hair removal routine by ensuring your hair removal tool of choice can reach the hair without any debris or dead skin blocking the way. If you are removing hair from your face, it is a good idea to invest in a less intense physical exfoliant. But because the skin on other parts of your body is generally thicker and tougher, you can go ahead and make your own for those purposes. A DIY sugar scrub is a staple in my routine!
